Container for storage and preparation of a plant protective material containing at least two components

ABSTRACT

The specification describes a container for storing and preparing a spraying liquid comprising at least two components and which is at least partly filled with a solvent. A capsule comprising at least two separate chambers extends into the container and is connected with it in a fixed manner. The chambers contain different plant protective components. A sliding sleeve for pressing out the separating bottoms of the chambers has an external diameter substantially corresponding to the internal diameter of the capsule. The sliding sleeve is adapted to remain in the capsule after pressing out the separating bottoms.

O Umted States Patent 11 1 1111 3,870,147

Orth 1 1 Mar. 11, 1975 [54] CONTAINER FOR STORAGE AND 3,107,785 10/1963Rochr 206/365 PREPARATION OF A PLANT PROTECTIVE 3,340,873 9/1967 Solowcy215/1316. 8 MATERIAL CONTAINING AT LEAST TWO 3,603,484 9/1971 Ogle-22/94 COMPONENTS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Inventor: Gu h O h, Bik G y 1,557,740 2/1969 Fl'lll'lCC 215/6 [73] Assignee: Wolf-Gerate GmbH,Belzdorf, Sieg, primary Examiner wi1]iam p i Assistant Examiner-Bruce H.Bernstein 22 Filed: Apr. 19 1973 Attorney, Agent, or FirmOstr0lenk,Faber, Gerb &

Soffen [21] Appl. No.: 352,508

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data The'specificationdescribes a container for storing and Apr. 28. 1972 Germany 2221101Preparing a p y liquid Comprising at least two components and which isat least partly filled with a [52] US. Cl 206/222, 206/364, 215/6,Solvent A capsule Comprising at least two separate 215/D1G. 8, 222/129,259/48 chambers extends into the container and is connected 51 Int. Cl865d 25/08, B65d 1/04 with it in a fixed manner The chambers contain[58] Field of Search 206/219, 220, 221, 222, ferent P protectivecomponents A Sliding Sleeve 206/364 5; 2 5 DIG 222/9() 94 for pressingout the separating bottoms of the chambers has an external diametersubstantially corre- [56] References Cited sponding to the internaldiameter of the capsule. The UNITED STATES PATENTS sliding sleeve isadapted to remain in the capsule after pressing out the separatingbottoms. 2.595.113 4/1952 Taberer 215/6 2,720,969 10/1955 Kendall206/365 7 Claims, 4 Drawlng Figures III IIIIIIIIIIIIII PATENTEBHARI 1 95 SHEET 1 BF 3 PMENTEUHARI 1 I975 sum 2 OF 3 Fig. 2

CONTAINER FOR STORAGE AND PREPARATION OF A PLANT PROTECTIVE MATERIALCONTAINING AT LEAST TWO COMPONENTS BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field towhich invention relates The present invention relates to a container forstorage and preparation of a plant protective material containing atleast two components.

2. Prior proposals The German Pat. Specification 1,939,086 describes acontainer for storing and preparing a plant protective materialcontaining at least two components in the case of which all componentsintended for a ready-to-use spraying solution are so accommodatedseparately that mixing only occurs when the user desires it and takessuitable steps. This can be achieved because in the container containinga solvent a capsule provided with several separate chambers extends andthe capsule is firmly connected with the container and the chamberscomprise different plant protective components. For mixing theindividual plant protective components it is necessary in this respectto pierce the bottoms of the chambers of the capsule with a suitableimplement, for example with a plunger or with the projecting part ofaspray gun.

In this respect it is possible in many cases for the plant protectivecomponents contained in the chambers of the capsule not to be fullyremoved from these chambers after the piercing of the chamber bottoms sothat residues of in some cases highly poisonous plant protectivecomponents remain in the capsule and there is the danger that residuesof the highly concentrated plant protective materials may remain on theplunger or projecting part ofthe spray gun used for piercing the bottomsof the chambers. Such residues lead to the danger that the user may comeinto contact with the highly concentrated active substances remaining onthe plunger or projecting part of the spray gun when it has beenwithdrawn from the container.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION One aim of the present invention is to provide acontainer of the above-mentionedtype in the caseof which completeemptying of thechambers of the capsule is guaranteed and in the case ofwhich the mixing of the individual components with the solvent does notrequire any devices which must be removed out of the container again andon which highly concentrated active substances could remain as acontamination.

The present invention consists in a container for storing and preparinga spraying liquid comprising at least two components, and which is atleast partly filled with a solvent, and a capsule comprising at leasttwo separate chambers extends into the container and is connected withit in a fixed manner, the chambers containing different plant protectivecomponents, characterised by a sliding sleeve for pressing out theseparating bottoms of the chambers with an external diametersubstantially corresponding to the internal diameter of the capsule, thesliding sleeve being adapted to remain in the capsule after pressing outthe separating bottoms.

This sliding sleeve can in an advantageous manner be adapted to beplugged on the screw connection for the neck of the container so thatthe container after the pressing out of the separating bottoms of thecapsule is initially closed and mixing together of the active substancescontained in the capsule with the solvent contained in the container cantake place, for example by shaking.

It is furthermore possible to provide a rod-shaped extension in theinterior of the screw closure, on whose free end the sliding sleeve canbe plugged. In this case the sliding sleeve can be plugged in aconcentric telescopic manner on this extension for transport and thusremains in the interior of the neck of the container so that it cannotbe lost. For piercing the separating bottoms the sliding sleeve isremoved after unscrewing the closure cap and after tilting through isplugged on the end of the extension so that a pushing out of theseparating bottoms as far as the end of the capsule is possible.

Since in the case of the use of several active substances in the capsuleand of the simultaneous accommodation of the sliding sleeve in the neckof the container the capsule can extend to a substantial extent into thecontainer it is advantageous to provide the sliding sleeve on the endwhich can be plugged on to the extension with a tapered part, whichafter the pressing out of the separating bottoms comes to lie at aposition immediately under the neck shoulder of the container and thatthe part of the capsule, lying at this position, has an opening for thecomplete removal of the solution in thecontainer. In this manner acomplete emptying of the container is possible even without additionalimplements, such as for example the take-in tube of a spray gun.

The opening formed in the capsule can in this case be closedby aseparating wall or partition constructed as a hollow plug for transportand before use, the wall of this hollow plug covering the opening.

LIST OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS The invention will now be described indetail in what follows referring to an embodiment shown. in theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the container with the capsule inthe condition fixed for transport.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1 after the pushingout of the separating bottoms for mixing the active substances with thesolvent.

FIG. 3 shows a .view of the closing cap and the sliding sleeve.

FIG. 4 shows a view of the capsule for receiving the active substances.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 the container for storingand preparing the plant protective agents is denoted by the generalreference numeral 1. This container consists of a bottle body 2, withwhose bottle neck 7 a capsule is connected for receiving the individualactive substances. In this capsule several chambers 3, 4 are providedfor receiving the individual active substances and the chambers aresealed off by the separating bottoms 21-23. In the embodiment shown onlytwo chambers are provided but the number of chambers can, however, bechanged as may be desired. The uppermost separating bottom 23 isconstructed as a hollow plug with a wall 28 for reasons which will beexplained presently.

In the upper part of the capsule 16 or of the bottle neck 7 a slidingsleeve 25 is accommodated, which surrounds an extension 26 of a closingcap 24 in a telescoping manner.

The closing cap 24 has an internal screw thread, which cooperates withan external screw thread on the upper end of the bottle neck 7 so thatthe closure cap 24 can be screwed onto the bottle neck to make aliquid-tight seal.

The sliding sleeve 25 has a tapered p'art 25a at its one end and theinternal diameter of this part corresponds to the external diameter ofthe free end of the extension 26 of the closure cap 24. This extensionpreferably has at its free end an end section 29 with a shoulder 290formed by this. This shoulder acts as an abutment for the end of thetapered part 250 of the sliding sleeve 25 in the plugged togethercondition.

For mixing the active material in the chambers 3 and 4 of the solvent 5in the bottle body 2 the closure cap 24 is unscrewed, the sliding sleevewith the tapered part 25a is plugged on the free end of the extension 26of the closure cap 24 and the arrangement formed in this manner ispressed under pressure into the eapsule so that the upper separatingbottom 23 constructed as a hollow plug and the further separatingbottoms 21 and 22 are pressed out ofthe capsule. The pressing through ina sliding manner of the hollow plug through the capsule ensures thatcomplete emptying of the capsule takes place.

FIG. 2 shows the container 1 with the sliding sleeve 25 completelyinserted into the capsule 16. Since the sliding sleeve 25 is made hollowemptying of the container through this sliding sleeve 25 is possible.

In order to make possible complete emptying of the container even in thecase ofa capsule 16 extending for a considerable distance into thecontainer, an opening 27 is placed at a position immediatley underneaththe bottle neck 7 in the capsule 16 and this opening 27 simultaneouslylies in part ofthe tapering part 25a of the sliding sleeve 25. In thismanner a complete emptying of the container 1 is possible.

This opening 27 is closed before use by the wall 28 of the separatingbottom 23 constructed as a hollow plug. Also during the insertion of thesliding sleeve 25 this opening is closedbefore the complete insertion ofthe sliding sleeve, since the outer wall of the sliding sleeve coversthe opening.

FIG. 3 shows the closure cap 24 with the extension 26 and the closurecap 24 separately. As can be seen from figure 3 the end of the extension26 has a section 29 with a reduced diameter, by means of which anabutment shoulder 29a is formed. The sliding sleeve 25 has a taperedsection 25a with an internal diameter, which corresponds to the internaldiameter of the part 29 with the reduced diameter. In this manner thesliding sleeve 25 can be plugged on the end of the extension 26. As canbe seen fron FIG. 1 the diameters of the extension 26 and the slidingsleeve 25 are so selected that the sliding sleeve 25 can be plugged in atelescoping manner on the extension 26 before use in the condition readyfor transport of the container 1 and therefore it takes up little space.

Naturally it is also possible to provide a correspondingly longersliding sleeve or a sliding sleeve with an extension abutment, which isdelivered with the container and also remains in the capsule afterpressing in of the separating bottoms. In this case an extension on theclosure cap is not necessary.

FIG. 4 shows the capsule 16 separately. This capsule can have a flange30 at its upper end. The flange can be connected with the upper end ofthe bottle neck 7 by welding or in an other suitable manner.

I claim:

1. Container means for separate storing and for mixing at least twocomponents, one a dissolving component and another a solvent; saidcontainer means comprising:

a container for containing one component; said container having a body,an opening into said body and a neck leading from said body tosaidcontainer opening;

a capsule for containing the other component and being positioned toextend into said container body; said capsule having sidewalls, anormally sealed openable base, a normally sealed first stopper spacedaway from and above said base along said sidewalls, whereby said capsuleis sealed closed a removable second stopper for closing said bodyopening; affixed to said second stopper and normally positioned in andextendinginto said neck toward said first stopper is an operating sleeveof a first length for operating a capsule rammer; said sleeve having afirst free end portion that is away from its said second stopper andwhich is shaped to define a first abutment to abut the capsule rammer.

also normally positioned in said neck and extending along at least partof the length of said sleeve is a removable capsule rammer; said rammerhaving a second end portion that is shaped to define a second abutmentto abut said first abutment; said rammer having a-rammer end oppositeits said second end portion; said rammer end in the said normal positionof said rammer extending up through said neck toward said second stopperand away from said capsule; with both saidsleeve and saidrammer in theirrespective said normal positions, said first and said second abutmentsare separated and are out of engagement with each other;

upon removal of said rammer from said container neck, inversion of saidrammer and replacement of said rammer in said neck in the invertedposition such that said rammer end extends into said container and saidrammer second end portion extends toward said second stopper, and uponmoving of said second stopper and its said sleeve onto said containerneck toward said container body. said first and said second abutmentsabut; said rammer being ofa length such that its said rammer end engagesand breaks through both said capsule first stopper and said capsulebase, thereby causing mixing of the components in said capsule and saidcontainer.

2. The container means of claim 1, wherein said rammer is a hollow openended sleeve such that mixed components in said capsule may pass throughsaid rammer after it has opened said first stopper and said capsulebase.

3. The container means of claim 2, wherein said stopper sleeve is alsohollow and has an open lower end extending toward said container body,and with said first and second abutments in engagement, said rammer andsaid sleeve being so shaped and positioned as to form a continuous flowpathway from said container body through said rammer and said sleeve.

4. The container means of claim 2, wherein said container neck isdefined by sidewalls thereof; said rammer in its said normal position isin said container neck between said container neck sidewalls and saidsecond stopper sleeve; said rammer second end being narrowed to a firstcross-section to define said second abutment, and said first abutmenthaving said first cross-section thereby causing said first and saidsecond abutments to abut.

5. The container means of claim 4, wherein said second stopper sleevehas an annular, radially inward step thereon which defines said firstabutment; said rammer second end portion passes over said sleeve firstend portion to engage said second abutment.

6. The container means of claim 2, wherein said capsule comprises twocapsule elements that are aligned with respect to motion of said rammerand both being defined by the same said sidewalls which extend past bothsaid capsule elements and both include a respective normally sealedopenable base and spaced away therefrom along said sidewalls arespective normally openable first stopper;

said rammer being of a length such that once said first and said secondabutments abut, said rammer end engages and breaks successively throughsaid first stopper of the upper said capsule component, said base of theupper said capsule component, said first stopper of the lower saidcapsule component and said base of the lower said capsule component,thereby to mix the components in said capsule elements and in saidcontainer.

7. The container means of claim 2, wherein said capsule is formed in anelongated tube through said container neck and said elongated tubedefining said capsule sidewalls; said capsule base and first stopperbeing spaced along said tube;

a tube opening through said capsule tube and communicating from withinsaid tube to into said container, said tube opening being located alongsaid tube above said capsule;

said capsule first stopper including a cylindrical shell with upstandingwalls extending through said tube a height to extend past said tubeopening and said cylindrical shell being of the cross-section of theinterior of said tube, such that said cylindrical shell normally coverssaid tube opening; said first stopper being shiftable by said rammeraway from the position where it convers said tube opening to open saidtube opening.

1. Container means for separate storing and for mixing at least twocomponents, one a dissolving component and another a solvent; saidcontainer means comprising: a container for containing one component;said container having a body, an opening into said body and a neckleading from said body to said container opening; a capsule forcontaining the other component and being positioned to extend into saidcontainer body; said capsule having sidewalls, a normally sealedopenable base, a normally sealed first stopper spaced away from andabove said base along said sidewalls, whereby said capsule is sealedclosed a removable second stopper for closing said body opening; affixedto said second stopper and normally positioned in and extending intosaid neck toward said first stopper is an operating sleeve of a firstlength for operating a capsule rammer; said sleeve having a first freeend portion that is away from its said second stopper and which isshaped to define a first abutment to abut the capsule rammer; alsonormally positioned in said neck and extending along at least part ofthe length of said sleeve is a removable capsule rammer; said rammerhaving a second end portion that is shaped to define a second abutmentto abut said first abutment; said rammer having a rammer end oppositeits said second end portion; said rammer end in the said normal positionof said rammer extending up through said neck toward said second stopperand away from said capsule; with both said sleeve and said rammer intheir respective said normal positions, said first and said secondabutments are separated and are out of engagement with each other; uponremoval of said rammer from said container neck, inversion of saidrammer and replacement of said rammer in said neck in the invertedposition such that said rammer end extends into said container and saidrammer second end portion extends toward said second stopper, and uponmoving of said second stopper and its said sleeve onto said containerneck toward said container body, said first and said second abutmentsabut; said rammer being of a length such that its said rammer endengages and breaks through both said capsule first stopper and saidcapsule base, thereby causing mixing of the components in said capsuleand said container.
 1. Container means for separate storing and formixing at least two components, one a dissolving component and another asolvent; said container means comprising: a container for containing onecomponent; said container having a body, an opening into said body and aneck leading from said body to said container opening; a capsule forcontaining the other component and being positioned to extend into saidcontainer body; said capsule having sidewalls, a normally sealedopenable base, a normally sealed first stopper spaced away from andabove said base along said sidewalls, whereby said capsule is sealedclosed a removable second stopper for closing said body opening; affixedto said second stopper and normally positioned in and extending intosaid neck toward said first stopper is an operating sleeve of a firstlength for operating a capsule rammer; said sleeve having a first freeend portion that is away from its said second stopper and which isshaped to define a first abutment to abut the capsule rammer; alsonormally positioned in said neck and extending along at least part ofthe length of said sleeve is a removable capsule rammer; said rammerhaving a second end portion that is shaped to define a second abutmentto abut said first abutment; said rammer having a rammer end oppositeits said second end portion; said rammer end in the said normal positionof said rammer extending up through said neck toward said second stopperand away from said capsule; with both said sleeve and said rammer intheir respective said normal positions, said first and said secondabutments are separated and are out of engagement with each other; uponremoval of said rammer from said container neck, inversion of saidrammer and replacement of said rammer in said neck in the invertedposition such that said rammer end extends into said container and saidrammer second end portion extends toward said second stopper, and uponmoving of said second stopper and its said sleeve onto said containerneck toward said container body, said first and said second abutmentsabut; said rammer being of a length such that its said rammer endengages and breaks through both said capsule first stopper and saidcapsule base, thereby causing mixing of the components in said capsuleand said container.
 2. The container means of claim 1, wherein saidrammer is a hollow open ended sleeve such that mixed components in saidcapsule may pass through said rammer after it has opened said firststopper and said capsule base.
 3. The container means of claim 2,wherein said stopper sleeve is also hollow and has an open lower endextending toward said container body, and with said first and secondabutments in engagement, said rammer and said sleeve being so shaped andpositioned as to form a continuous flow pathway from said container bodythrough said rammer and said sleeve.
 4. The container means of claim 2,wherein said container neck is defined by sidewalls thereof; said rammerin its said normal position is in said container neck between saidcontainer neck sidewalls and said second stopper sleeve; said rammersecond end being narrowed to a first cross-section to define said secondabutment, and said first abutment having said first cross-sectionthereby causing said first and said second abutments to abut.
 5. Thecontainer means of claim 4, wherein said second stopper sleeve has anannular, radially inward step thereon which defines said first abutment;said rammer second end portion passes over said sleeve first end portionto engage said second abutment.
 6. The container means of claim 2,wherein said capsule comprises two capsule elements that are alignedwith respect to motion of said rammer and both being defined by the samesaid sidewalls which extend past both said capsule elements and bothinclude a respective normally sealed openable base and spaced awaytherefrom along said sidewalls a respective normally openable firststopper; said rammer being of a length such that once said first andsaid second abutments abut, said rammer end engages and breakssuccessively through said first stopper of the upper said capsulecomponent, said base of the upper said capsule component, said firststopper of the lower said capsule component and said base of the lowersaid capsule component, thereby to mix the components in said capsuleelements and in said container.